Spinach & moong cheela — a green, iron-rich savoury breakfast (1–2 years)
A soft green cheela where blanched spinach vanishes into moong batter — leafy iron and pulse protein in a savoury breakfast toddlers finish.
Why am I making this?
Spinach (shaaka) brings leafy iron and folate and moong (mudga) adds protein and more iron, blended into a soft green cheela with a finishing squeeze of lemon to lift absorption; blanching the spinach briefly before blending keeps the colour bright and the iron intact. Spinach and green gram are classical.
Ancient text
Leafy greens and green gram are valued as wholesome and strengthening.
The classical texts value leafy greens (shaaka) and green gram (mudga) as wholesome and strengthening; a spinach-moong cheela follows that. The exact verse is being confirmed by our review panel before publication.
Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana — leafy greens (Shaaka) and green gram (Mudga). Exact verse being confirmed by our review panel before publication. Reviewed by the Aayu Ahaar editorial team.
Modern research
Spinach supplies iron and folate and moong adds protein and iron, with vitamin C (lemon) aiding absorption; greens and pulses are recommended for toddlers.
ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024 — greens, pulses and iron pairing. Indian Food Composition Tables (ICMR-NIN), 2017 — spinach iron, moong protein.
How to make it
What you'll need
- 1/2 cup moong dal, soaked and ground to a batter
- A big handful of spinach, blanched and pureed into the batter
- A little ghee, mild seasoning, a squeeze of lemon
- Blanch the spinach briefly and blend it into the ground moong batter.
- Spread thin cheela on a warm tawa with a little ghee.
- Cook soft on both sides.
- Serve warm with a squeeze of lemon.
How to feed it
| Texture | Soft, thin, folded |
| Quantity | 1–2 small cheela |
| Frequency | 2–3 times a week, with lemon |
| Best time | Breakfast |
What's inside
Grow this recipe with your child
| 1–2y | Soft, mild, thin |
| 2–5y | As is |
| 5–7y | More spinach |
| 7y+ | Family cheela |
What every mother asks
Green refused?
Enough iron?
Spicy?
Protein?
A few honest notes
- Soak moong well.
- Blanch and cook spinach soft.
- Add lemon at serving.
- Mild seasoning.
Storage & make-ahead
Batter keeps a day chilled; cook cheela fresh.
A gentle, honest note — this is one nourishing food among many, not a complete meal on its own. Aayu Ahaar walks beside the doctor's care, never in its place.